In 2014 I began working with artists living on Flinders Island on an exciting project to expand and develop their creative practice and explore new opportunities for them both within and outside of Flinders Island.
How could they extend themselves and where could they take their art? It was a diverse group with painters, photographers, a film maker, sculptors and a textile artist. At times it was challenging and confronting, but all nine of them prevailed and all the hard work culminated in The Journey of the Argonauts; an exhibition that included new exciting works set within a contemporary gallery.
We were able to bring together a group exhibition that had amazing cohesion in essence and form and conveyed a shared love for Flinders Island.
I invited the Principal Curator of TMAG, Jane Stewart to co-curate the exhibition which was opened to a large crowd of island residents and visitors. Straits Gallery was the first gallery outcome, with the hope that there would be future destinations for this beautiful collection of new works.
The wonderful artists involved included: Rachel Dallas, Sandro Donati, Sammi Gowthorp, Annabel Apps, Bronwen Grutzner, Dale Williams, Helen Haines, Jaga Lipska and Lila Tresemer.
The project was funded by the Regional Arts Fund, the Flinders Island Council and Flinders Island Regional Arts.
